Standard electrical equipment often creates internal sparks which can ignite flammable substances present in hazardous environments where flammable materials are handled and any leak or spill has the potential to form a an explosive atmosphere.

In these areas, it’s essential that mobile devices are rated either non-incendive or Intrinsically Safe (I-Safe). But what do these terms mean and how do you know whether you need either of these rated mobile devices?

Intrinsic Safety is a protection technique for safe operation of electronic equipment in explosive atmospheres. A device termed intrinsically safe is designed to not contain any components that generate sparks or a hot surface due to any type of electrical fault that could cause an ignition.

The National Electrical Code classifies hazardous locations by class and divisions. In these environments, mobile devices must be used with a corresponding rating. In tomorrow’s post, we’ll cover the Intrinsically Safe definitions and standards.

Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about non-incendive and Intrinsically Safe (I-Safe) mobile devices and what you need to protect your employees.